sxsw interactive 2014 workshop: "the humor-centered design process"

The Humor-Centered Design Process

#humorUX

March 10, 2014 / SXSW Interactive 2014

WHO ARE WE?

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Chelsey Delaney UX designer,

humorist, writer@chelseD

Chris Trew Comedian, Founder ofThe New Movement,

Author of Improv Wins @christrew

WHO ARE YOU?

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Tell us:

• Your name

• What you do

• Why you’re here

INTRODUCTION EXERCISE

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Profile Sheet

(10 minutes)

ABOUT THIS WORKSHOP

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Learning how to be funny. Sorry!

(That being said ...)

WHAT THIS WORKSHOP ISN’T

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A brief exploration of the relationship

between (the processes and products of)

design and humor.

WHAT THIS WORKSHOP IS

IDENTIFYING HUMOR

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“... something unexpected, the truth of

which is recognized.”- Aristotle

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• Using humor increases creativity and fosters innovation

WHY HUMOR?

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• Using humor increases creativity and fosters innovation

• Humor allows a designer to reach a deeper level with both their team and/or with the users of their

product

WHY HUMOR?

WORKSHOP OVERVIEW

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PART 1:Learn how humor can make the design process

more collaborative and creative (and fun).

PART 2: Learn how humor can take shape in design of a product, as well as contribute to its experience.

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

• Improv exercises

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

• Improv exercises

• Sketching and discussing our own designs

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HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

• Improv exercises

• Sketching and discussing our own designs

• Checking out examples of humorous design

PART 1:

Learn how humor can make the design

process more collaborative and creative

(and fun).

THE DESIGN PROCESS

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• At a high-level:

Explore

Generate

Evaluate

Refine

THE HUMOR ... PROCESS?

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• The methods, concepts and tools humorists use to create comedy

HUMOR IN THE DESIGN PROCESS

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Using humor techniques and concepts to connect with and understand users, and to help in the

creation of innovative concepts and ideas.

DESIGN PROCESS + HUMOR PROCESS =

IMPROV EXERCISE

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Dressing the Scene

(30 minutes)

DRESSING THE SCENE

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• Establishing a framework

DRESSING THE SCENE

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• Establishing a framework

• “If this, then what?”

DRESSING THE SCENE

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• Establishing a framework

• “If this, then what?”

• Building on ideas with others to develop a shared meaning and understanding

DRESSING THE DESIGN

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DESIGN BRIEF:

Create an app that will teach

someone about your favorite era

and/or civilization.

DESIGN EXERCISE

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Make a List

(10 minutes)

BREAK

(5 minutes)

IMPROV EXERCISE

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Characters

(30 minutes)

CHARACTERS

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Improv relies on the ability to create and build on characters through personal knowledge and

observance of people and patterns.

CHARACTERS

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When developing characters,improvisers must ask themselves:

“If this is true, then what else is true?”

Improv relies on the ability to create and build on characters through personal knowledge and

observance of people and patterns.

DESIGN EXERCISE

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Draw Your Audience

(15 minutes)

CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS

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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them

CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS

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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them

• Embrace and harness personal bias

CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS

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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them

• Embrace and harness personal bias

• Feel ownership of and allegiance to the user

CHARACTERS INSTEAD OF PERSONAS

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• Don’t just observe the user, interpret them

• Embrace and harness personal bias

• Feel ownership of and allegiance to the user

• Empathize with and interalize user needs and experiences

DESIGN EXERCISE

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Sketch Your Flow

(15 minutes)

BREAK

(15 minutes)

PART 2:

Learn how humor can take shape in the

design of a product, as well as contribute

to its experience.

THE DESIGN OF A PRODUCT

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• Can be physical, interactive, visual, experiential, behavioral, etc.

THE DESIGN OF A PRODUCT

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• Can be physical, interactive, visual, experiential, behavioral, etc.

• Different than design for delight and design for play!

HUMOR IN THE DESIGN

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• Understanding the basic structure of humor, both in order to recognize it and apply it

HUMOR IN THE DESIGN

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• Understanding the basic structure of humor, both in order to recognize it and apply it

• (Yes, it’s the cardinal sin of learning to explain why something is funny)

HUMOR RESEARCH

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“... is a multidisciplinary field stemming fromlinguistics that studies humor and its effects at theintersections of psychology, sociology, philosophy,history, literature, rhetoric, and computer science.”

Source: wikipedia.org

HUMOR RESEARCH

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“... is a multidisciplinary field stemming fromlinguistics that studies humor and its effects at theintersections of psychology, sociology, philosophy,history, literature, rhetoric, and computer science.”

And now design.

INCONGRUITY THEORY

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Incongruity Theory argues that humor occurs when a contrast between

contextualized elements or concepts is perceived and processed.

INCONGRUITY THEORY

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Incongruity Theory argues that humor occurs when a contrast between

contextualized elements or concepts is perceived and processed.

IMPROV EXERCISE

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Straight / Absurd

(30 minutes)

DESIGN EXAMPLE

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Source: petsorfood.com

DESIGN EXAMPLE

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Source: https://prosign.tumblr.com

DESIGN EXAMPLE

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Source: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/quit-your-job/id781659061?mt=8

DESIGN EXAMPLE

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Source: playitbyearparenthood.org

DESIGN EXAMPLE

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Source: jurassicsystems.com

DESIGN EXERCISE

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Yes, And

(15 minutes)

QUESTIONS?

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Chelsey Delaney UX designer,

humorist, writer@chelseD

Chris Trew Comedian, Founder ofThe New Movement,

Author of Improv Wins @christrew

Thank you!